About Psoriasis

Psoriasis is...

An inflammatory disease resulting in skin cells in the affected areas reproducing every 3 to 6 days, instead of 28. This process is too fast and causes raised, scaly patches of Dead skin cells build up on the skin's surface.

Very treatable: There is a range of effective treatments to control psoriasis and improve quality of life.

Common: You are not alone. It has been estimated that between 2-5% of people around the world have psoriasis. The Canadian Dermatology Association estimates that about 1 million Canadians have psoriasis.

Men and women are at equal risk of developing psoriasis. It can occur at any age. Although more common in Caucasians of northern European descent, it has been identified in people around the world.

Psoriasis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Psoriasis is very common. Anyone can get it, but it most commonly begins between ages 15 and 35.

It is not contagious. You cannot spread it to others.

Psoriasis seems to be passed down through families.

Doctors think it probably occurs when the body's immune system mistakes healthy cells for dangerous substances.

The following may trigger an attack of psoriasis or make the condition more difficult to treat:

In general, psoriasis may be severe in people who have a weakened immune system.

Some people with psoriasis may also have arthritis, a condition known as psoriatic arthritis.

Symptoms

Psoriasis can appear suddenly or slowly. Many times, it goes away and then comes back again and again.

Symptoms include:

Irritated, red, flaky patches of skin

Most often seen on the elbows, knees, and middle of the body

Red patches may appear anywhere on the body, including the scalp

The skin may be:

Itchy

Dry and covered with silver, flaky skin (scales)

Pink-red in color (like the color of salmon)

Raised and thick

Other symptoms may include:

Joint pain or aching

Nail changes including thick nails, yellow-brown nails, dents in the nail, and nail lifts off from the skin underneath

Severe dandruff on the scalp

Psoriasis may affect any or all parts of the skin.

There are five main types of psoriasis:

Erythrodermic -- The skin redness is very intense and covers a large area.

Guttate -- Small, pink-red spots appear on the skin.

Inverse -- Skin redness and irritation occurs in the armpits, groin, and in between overlapping skin.

Plaque -- Thick, red patches of skin are covered by flaky, silver-white scales. This is the most common type of psoriasis.

Pustular -- White blisters are surrounded by red, irritated skin.

Signs and tests

Your doctor or nurse can usually diagnose this condition by looking at your skin.

Sometimes, a skin biopsy is done to rule out other possible conditions. If you have joint pain, your doctor may order x-rays.

Treatment

The goal of treatment is to control your symptoms and prevent infection.

Three treatment options are available:

Skin lotions, ointments, creams, and shampoos. These are called topical treatments.

Pills or injections that affect the body's immune response, not just the skin. There are called systemic, or body-wide, treatments.

Phototherapy, which uses light to treat psoriasis.

TOPICAL TREATMENTS

Most of the time, psoriasis is treated with medications that are placed directly on the skin or scalp. This may include:

Cortisone creams and ointments

Creams or ointments that contain coal tar or anthralin

Creams to remove the scaling (usually salicylic acid or lactic acid)

Dandruff shampoos (over-the-counter or prescription)

Moisturizers

Prescription medicines containing vitamin D or vitamin A (retinoids)

SYSTEMIC (BODY-WIDE) TREATMENTS

If you have very severe psoriasis, your doctor will likely recommend medicines that suppress the immune system's faulty response. These medicines include methotrexate or cyclosporine. Retinoids such as acitretin can also be used.

Newer drugs called biologics are used when other treatments do not work. Biologics approved for the treatment of psoriasis include:

Adalimumab (Humira)

Alefacept (Amevive)

Etanercept (Enbrel)

Infliximab (Remicade)

Stelara

PHOTOTHERAPY

Some people may choose to have phototherapy.

Phototherapy is a medical treatment in which your skin is carefully exposed to ultraviolet light.

Phototherapy may be given alone or after you take a drug that makes the skin sensitive to light.

Phototherapy for psoriasis can be given as ultraviolet A (UVA) or ultraviolet B (UVB) light.

OTHER TREATMENTS

If you have an infection, your doctor will prescribe antibiotics.

AT HOME CARE

Follow these tips at home:

Oatmeal baths may be soothing and may help to loosen scales. You can use over-the-counter oatmeal bath products. Or, you can mix 1 cup of oatmeal into a tub of warm water.

Sunlight may help your symptoms go away. Be careful not to get sunburned.

Relaxation and anti stress techniques may be helpful. The link between stress and flares of psoriasis is not well understood, however.